Something You've Forgotten

I was speaking to a friend the other day about how surprised I have been by aspects of having a newborn in the house that I had somehow already forgotten, even though it wasn't that long ago with Jill. She has eight children, and she said that there is always something that she has forgotten about, too.

I have been surprised by . . .

• How many diapers he goes through! I had completely forgotten that newborns go through eight to twelve diapers a day. I am very used to Jill only going through three or four a day.
• How much breast feeding hurts at the beginning. Jill nursed until she was 15 1/2 months, and that was what I remembered. How easy it was. I had forgotten that it really hurts for the first few weeks. (I'm hoping the pain ends soon!) 
• How much milk you create at the beginning. Or maybe I'm not actually making more; newborns just eat less than a bigger baby does. There is always too much, which isn't all that comfortable either. I honestly have been wondering how I ever kept going with Jill, because with her I didn't have the remembrance that it does get easier later.
• How it feels to keep going on this little continuous sleep. I know that zombies are not real, but I think that new mothers might be the closest equivalent zombies have in reality. :) Of course, we look much more attractive than zombies. We just feel like them . . .

So, have you forgotten anything recently? Something that you've already lived through and thought you remembered? Like how cold winters get? Or how long it takes to scrape off your car in the morning? I'd love to hear it, because I'm really wondering how I could have forgotten those things.

I guess if you don't forget, then you might not want to do it all over again? ;) Just kidding. I love being a mom, even a new mother.

I just feel slightly robbed of the last month, but again I shouldn't complain, because other than being sick at the beginning, the last month is really the worst month—in the physical comfort department at least. But I really didn't have the mental preparedness time I expected to have. The final month is when you get everything together and really prepare for baby to come and the fact that a delivery is going to happen whether you want to or not. (At least for me.) It seems though, with Daniel coming at 35 1/2 weeks and Jill coming at 38 weeks, that perhaps I should start preparing in the eighth month, because I may not get a full ninth month. Although, with that attitude, our next baby will probably come two weeks late!!

Jill loves Daniel, so I really am blessed. She is constantly talking about him and wanting to see him or touch him.

The only possible display of jealousy that she has shown is wanting his bouncer, swing, and bassinet. She's always trying to get in them—regardless of whether it is already occupied by her brother! So, I have to be on guard for possible squashing.

She is always kissing him and hugging him. She loves saying "Daniel" and "Danny." "Brother" doesn't really come out as clearly.

It's really sweet when she comes over, pats his head, and tells him it's "okay" during his diaper changes, which—in true newborn fashion—he hates.

She's very curious about how he eats, but she has never mimicked that with her dolls. Yet. She does love  buckling her dolls into his car seat and putting his diapers on them. She has pretended to pump with my breast pump though. Haha. The first time she saw me doing that, she kept exclaiming "owie, owie, owie!" Little does she know how painless that is compared to what Daniel does!

Life is good though. The first week had some mood swings for me, but having my mother here really helped me make it through. Jeff's family has been very supportive as well, and this second week has been smooth sailing—so far!

just hanging out like buddies

Oh, and this isn't something that I have forgotten necessarily, but it is something I don't remember. (Same thing? Perhaps.) About when does the neck start being able to support the weight of the head? I am looking forward to that!